The Royal Dutch Mint have issued the latest silver Ducat in their on-going series of featuring the Provinces of the Netherlands on silver reproduction and revised designs of the historical silver Ducat minted in the Netherlands since 1589. The latest – and last issue in the series for 2012 – features the Province of Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient, larger region of Frisia.
These historic coins and their modern examples are still minted in the Netherlands under the Dutch Coinage Act, which played an important part in the Dutch economy, especially in world trade from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The first examples of the one ducat coin were originally struck during the Dutch Republic (1581 – 1795). The new examples continue to be struck in the standard .873 silver fineness commonly used for this type of trade coin. The overall design of this popular series changes after all the Provinces are represented and this is the second coin issued within the present series for 2012.
The obverse of the coin features a standing portrait of Governor William-Louis of Nassau-Dietz in the armor of the anonymous knight. The coat of Arms of Friesland in the form of a shield is placed at the foot of the Governor-General along with an outline of the province itself, just behind the shield. The text “MO. NO. ARG. REG. BELGII. FRI” (Moneta Argentea Ordinum Foederati Belgii Frisia” is positioned above the primary design along the rim and divided into two sections of text. The reverse shows the current crowned Dutch coat of arms between the year 2012. The text around the primary design reads “CONDORDIA RES PARAVE CRESCUNT” (In Harmony Small Things Grow).
Struck to proof quality, the coin weighs 28.2 grams with a diameter of 40 mm. A total mintage has been authorized at 5,000 pieces maximum. For more information on this and other coins offered by the Royal Dutch Mint, please visit their website at: http://www.knm.nl/Zilveren-Dukaat-Friesland-2012/nl/product/2952/ The information is offered in Dutch, International orders fulfilled.
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